BRACERS Record Detail for 17921
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"Sunday afternoon" "I am trying to understand what is meant by understanding a sentence or statement. It is amazingly complicated."*
*Still on Ch. I of Pt. II.
BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [25 MAY 1913]
BRACERS 17921. ALS. Morrell papers #786, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.
<letterhead>
Trinity College,
Cambridge.1, 2
Sunday aftn.
My Darling Love
Your letter of Friday reached me this morning and was full of interest. I am glad you will be further away from the building — it must be maddening. I didn’t know till now whether J. was staying with you or going back with P. — Your nerve Dr. sounds wonderful. I don’t think he sounds like a quack — all that you report of what he says sounds most sensible. He is certainly right about nervous tension and concentration — and certainly nervous tension affects the circulation. I have long thought that you got more tired than you need through thinking of things (I mean practical details) all at once, instead of finishing them one at a time — and through feeling whatever decision you had made was perhaps not the best, and so thinking it out again. It is amusing to think of your saying numbers over to yourself once an hour. I am glad he thought your mind good, and I am sure if he teaches you to concentrate without too much effort you will be able to read much more, and more difficult books.
Nothing of interest has happened to me. I am in very deep waters with my writing, and for the moment rather tired. But the weather is so hot and splendid that it helps one on.
Last night a young Harvard philosopher named Brownell came to see me — a Platonist and Rooseveltian — the latter because America needs a vigorous foreign policy, in order that California may be developed by sending wheat to China and Japan, who will only admit it at the point of the sword. The odd thing is he was a nice gentle youth. He made my blood boil and I nearly turned him out, but he was quite nice.
Now I must go back to my writing. I am trying to understand what is meant by understanding a sentence or statement. It is amazingly complicated.
I am so glad you are better — yes, I am sure being out a lot is good for you. Goodbye Darling — All my thoughts are with you always.
Your
B